2009 Whitney Award Winners

Best Romance

Counting the Cost
Liz Adair


Best Mystery/Suspense

Methods of Madness
Stephanie Black


Best Youth Fiction

The Chosen One
Carol Lynch Williams


Best Speculative

Servant of a Dark God
John Brown


Best Historical

The Last Waltz
G.G. Vandagriff


Best General Fiction

Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet
Jamie Ford


Best Novel by a New Author
(tie)

I am Not a Serial Killer
Dan Wells

Gravity vs. the Girl
Riley Noehren


Lifetime Acheivement Award

Gerald Lund


Outsatnding Achievment Award

Dave Wolverton

Reading and Writing

I have been reading like crazy lately. Out of the 30 books nominated for the Whitney Awards, I've read 22 1/2 but I'll get them all done, I think. It is always amazing to me the variety of books out there and the amount of really good writing. Doing all this reading affects my own writing as I look at the different ways other authors approach a story. It is all part of the learning process. Sometimes I wish the learning process wouldn't take so long, and I could say I did it and I'm published. Compared to some of my author friends, I feel like I am coming to the table very late in the game. But better late than never. Keep watching for me, because I will get there someday. Meanwhile, I have a little more reading to do.

2009 Whitney Award Finalists

Best Romance

Counting the Cost
Liz Adair

Illuminations of the Heart
Joyce dePastina

All the Stars in Heaven
Michele Paige Holmes

Santa Maybe
Aubery Mace

Previously Engaged
Elodia Strain


Best Mystery/Suspense

Lockdown
Traci Hunter Abramson

Methods of Madness
Stephanie Black

Murder by the Book
Betsy Brannon Green

Lemon Tart
Josi S. Kilpack

Altered State
Gregg Luke


Best Youth Fiction

Princess of the Midnight Ball
Jessica Day George

Fablehaven IV: Secrets of the Dragon Sanctuary
James Dashner

My Fair Godmother
Janette Rallison

Bright Blue Miracle
Becca Wilhite

The Chosen One
Carol Lynch Williams


Best Speculative Fiction

Servant of a Dark God
Dan Brown

The Maze Runner
James Dashner

Wings
Aprilynne Pike

Warbreaker
Brandon Sanderson

I am Not a Serial Killer
Dan Wells


Best Historical

Tribunal
Sandra Grey

The Undaunted
Gerald N. Lund

Alma
H.B. Moore

The Last Waltz
G.G. Vandagriff

In the Company of Angels
David Farland


Best General Fiction

Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet
Jamie Ford

No Going Back
Jonathon Langford

Gravity vs. the Girl
Riley Noehren

The Route
Gale Sears

Eyes Like Mine
Julie Wright


Lifetime Achievment Award

Gerald Lund


Oustanding Achievment Award

Dave Wolverton

Unlike previous years, no finalists are being announced for the two overall awards. Instead, the Whitney Academy can choose from any of the eligible finalists in any category. In other words, all of the novels listed above are still in the running for Best Novel of the Year.

Likewise, any of the above finalists that meet the eligibility requirements for Best Novel by a New Author can be chosen for that award. This year, the eligible books are:

• Servant of a Dark God, by John Brown
• Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, by Jamie Ford
• No Going Back, by Jonathon Langford
• Gravity vs. The Girl, by Riley Noehren
• Wings, by Aprilynne Pike
• I Am Not A Serial Killer, by Dan Wells
• Bright Blue Miracle, by Becca Wilhite
  

Books Eligible for the 2009 Whitney Awards

Here is the list for the 2009 Whitney Awards. I will keep adding to the list as I hear of new books. If you know of any books released in 2009 and by an LDS author, let me know in the comment section, or email me and I will get them added to the list.

1. Abramson, Traci Hunter - Lockdown
2. Adair, Liz - Counting the Cost
3. Allen, Joseph - The Phoenix: Firestorm
   
4. Anderson, Brenda - Abish: Faith Among the Lamanites
5. Ashley, Amanda - Immortal Sins
   
6. Ashley, Amanda - Night's Pleasure
7. Aylworth, Susan - Right Click
   
8. Bahlmann, Bron - Bone Warriors
   
9. Bateman, Anya - I Just Got a Letter From Allyson Pringle
10. Berry, Julie - Amaranth Enchantment
11. Bingham, Laura - Alvor
12. Black, Stephanie - Methods of Madness
    
13. Borrowman, Jerry - One Last Chance
14. Brown, John - Servant of Dark God
    
15. Chadwick, Linda - Second Chances
16. Checketts, Cami - The Sister Pact
17. Clark, Linda Weaver - David and the Bear Lake Monster
    
18. Clark, Linda Weaver - Elena Woman of Courage
    
19. Clements. Jillayne - Deadly Treasure
20. Cole, Frank L. - The Adventures of Hashbrown Winters
    
21. Collings, Michael R. - The Thousand Eyes of Flame: Wordsmith 2
22. Collings, Michael R. - The Veil of Heaven: Wordsmith 1
    
23. Dashner, James - The Hunt for Dark Infinity: The 13th Reality 2
24. Dashner, James - The Maze Runner
    
25. Daybell, Chad - The Rise of Zion
    
26. DiPastena, Joyce - Illuminations of the Heart
27. Dye, Anna del C. - Elfs in a Conquered Land
    
28. Edwards, Wendie L. - Babylon (Millenial Glory IX)
    
29. Ellis, Ann Dee - Everything is Fine
30. Farland, David - Chaosbound
31. Farland, David - In the Company of Angels
    
32. Farland, David - Ravenspell: Freaky Flyday
    
33. Feehan, Christine - Burning Wild
34. Feehan, Christine - Dark Slayer
35. Feehan, Christine - Hidden Currents
    
36. Ferran, Terri - Having Hope
37. Fitzpatrick, Becca - Hush, Hush
    
38. Ford, Jamie - Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet
    
39. Forman, M.L. - Slathbog's Gold: Adventures Wanted Bk. 1
40. Galli, Guy M. and Galli, Jeffrey R. - Shadow Hunter
41. Gardner, Lynn - Pursued: a Maggie McKenzie Mystery
    
42. George, Diony - Torn Apart
43. George, Jessica Day - Dragon Spear
    
44. George, Jessica Day - Princess of the Midnight Ball
45. Gowen, Karen Jones - Uncut Diamonds
    
46. Grandhi, Preetham - A Circle of Souls
47. Green, Betsy Brannon - Code of Honor
48. Green, Betsy Brannon - Murder by the Book
    
49. Grey, Sandra - Tribunal
50. Grossman, Jeni - Missing Pieces
51. Hale, Shannon - The Actor and the Housewife
    
52. Hale, Shannon - Forest Born
53. Hanks, Leeanne - Within the Flame
    
54. Hansen, Jennie - High Country
55. Hansen, Jennie - Shudder
    
56. Holmes, Michele Paige -All the Stars in Heaven
    
57. Harrison, Mette Ivie - The Princess and the Bear
58. Henham, R.D. (Clint Johnson) - Green Dragon Codex
    
59. Henham, R.D. (Rebecca Shelley) - Brass Dragon Codex
60. Hinrichsen, Ronda Gibb - Missing
    
61. Horrocks, Heather - How to Stuff a Wild Zucchini
62. Justesen, Heather - The Ball's in her Court
    
63. Kent, Steven L. - The Clone Betrayal
    
64. Kilpack, Josi - English Trifle
    
65. Kilpack, Josi - Lemon Tart
    
66. Kurland, Lynn - Princess of the Sword
67. Kurland, Lynn - Till There Was You
68. Langford, Jonathon - No Going Back
    
69. Luke, Gregg - Altered State
    
70. Lund, Gerald - The Undaunted
    
71. Lyon, Annette - Tower of Strength
    
72. Mace, Aubrey - My Fairy Grandmother
73. Mace, Aubrey - Santa Maybe
    
74. Mangrum, Dennis - The Mystic Cipher: The Story of the Lost Rhoades Gold Mine
75. Mangum, Lisa - The Hourglass Door
    
76. Mathews, John Holbrook - The Light Above
77. McClure, Marcia Lynn - A Crimson Frost
    
78. McClure, Marcia Lynn - Saphyre Snow
    
79. McClure, Marcia Lynn - Shackles of Honor
80. McKendry, Kristen - The Ties that Bind
    
81. Mickelson, Marcia - Pickup Games
82. Moore, H.B. - Alma
    
83. Morgan, K.L. - On the Jericho Road
    
84. Morrison, Angela - Taken by Storm
    
85. Mull, Brandon - Secrets of the Dragon Sanctuary: Fablehaven 4
86. Nunes, Rachel Ann - Saving Madeline
    
87. Noehren, Riley - Gravity vs the Girl
88. Owen, James - The Shadow Dragons
    
89. Perry, Anne - Execution Dock
90. Petersen, Todd Robert - Rift
91. Peterson, Kathi Oram - The Forgotten Warrior
92. Pike, Aprilynne - Wings
93. Pinkston, Tristi - Agent in Old Lace
94. Poulson, Clair M. - Dead Wrong
    
95. Poulson, Cory - Reiyalindis
    
96. Rager, Rachel - By Love or By Sea
    
97. Rallison, Janette - Just One Wish
    
98. Rallison, Janette - My Fair Godmother
99. Sanderson, Brandon - Alcatraz versus the Knights of Crystallia
    
100. Sanderson, Brandon & Jordan Robert - The Gathering Storm
     
101. Sanderson, Brandon - Warbreaker
102. Savage, J. Scott - Farworld: Landkeep
     
103. Sears, Gale - The Route
104. Shurtleff, Mark L. - Am I Not a Man? The Dred Scott Story
105. Skye, Obert - Leven Thumps and the Ruins of Alder
106. Sowards, Joan - Haunts Haven
     
107. Stansfield, Anita - The Best of Times (Dickens Inn #1)
     
108. Stansfield, Anita - Shelter from the Storm
109. Stansfield, Anita - The Silence of Snow
     
110. Stansfield, Anita - Winds of Hope
111. Stephens, Berin L. - The Dragon War Relic
     
112. Strain, Elodia - Previously Engaged
113. Talley, Rebecca - Altared Plans
     
114. Thayer, Douglas - The Tree House
115. Thayne, RaeAnne - A Cold Creek Homecoming
     
116. Thayne, RaeAnne - Fortune's Woman
     
117. Vandagriff, G.G. - The Hidden Branch
     
118. Vandagriff, G.G. - The Last Waltz
     
119. Ward, Marsha - Trail of Storms
120. Weikel, Deborah L. - Under a Lakota Moon
     
121. Weis, Margaret & Hickman, Tracy - Bones of the Dragon
122. Weis, Margaret & Hickman, Tracy - Dragons of the Hourglass Mage
123. Weyland, Jack - Brianna, My Brother and the Blog
     
124. Weyland, Jack - The Samaritan Bueno
     
125. Wilhite, Becca - Bright Blue Miracle
126. Williams, Carol Lynch - The Chosen One
127. Wright, Jason F. - Christmas Jars Reunion